For a year in the run up to this general election the Conservative party said Crossrail - the biggest infrastructure project in Europe - might be ditched as it prepared to slash the UK's £163bn record budget deficit.
The go-ahead came after months of lobbying the Tories by Crossrail, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Transport for London.
The project will ease the rising pressure on the capital's other modes of transports. Crossrail is a new 73-mile rail line that will carry 24 trains an hour during rush hour in ten 200-metre long carriages. Passengers will be able to travel from the Docklands to Heathrow in 44 minutes.
Crossrail is a new 73-mile rail line that will carry 24 trains an hour during rush hour in ten 200-metre long carriages
Crossrail began major construction work at Tottenham Court Road station and at other key points around the capital last year. The project has already spent £2.5bn and is committed to another £1.5bn of work.
Chairman of Crossrail, Terry Morgan said the next major milestone for the project will come later this year when it will release a £2bn tender to dig five tunnels under the city.
"This is welcome news. To get such early and firm support from the government means the project can go forward with confidence," said Mr Morgan.
"This construction project will mean a lot of jobs in London and the southeast and a boost for the wider UK economy as a whole."